WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Reauthorization Act of 2024, sponsored by U.S. Representatives Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), John Joyce (R-PA), and Kim Schrier (D-WA). This critical piece of legislation will ensure children receive appropriate health care during a medical emergency.
Established in 1984, EMSC is the only federal program focused on enhancing emergency care for children and adolescents. From providing tailored medical equipment to recommended dosage requirements for prescription drugs, the EMSC program enables health care professionals to meet the specific needs of young patients and has decreased pediatric injury-related death rates by more than 40 percent.
Watch and read Rep. Carter’s floor remarks in favor of the bill here:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill H.R. 6960, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024.
“As a health care professional serving in Congress, my goal is to increase the accessibility, affordability, and quality of health care for all patients, including children.
"That's why I'm proud to sponsor the bipartisan Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act, which will improve emergency care for children.
“This bill reauthorizes the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program, which focuses on addressing the unique needs of children in emergency medical systems with the ultimate goal of reducing the prevalence of morbidity and mortality in children.
"For nearly four decades, the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program has been the only federal grant program specifically focused on addressing the needs of children in emergency medical systems.
“As we know today, children have special health care needs.
"Whether children require emergency care following a crash or fall ill in the middle of the night with nowhere else to turn, our emergency medical system needs to have staff trained to treat children.
“A major part of that is providing the resources to equip health care professionals with the right sized medical tools.
"As a pharmacist, I understand how critical it is that children receive care that is specialized to their unique needs.
"That is why I am proud to be leading Reauthorization Emergency Medical Services for Children program, which is proven to be an effective approach for saving America's children.
“The authorization of the Emergency Medical Services for Children program is set to lapse on September 30th if Congress does not reauthorize it.
"That’s why we are strongly urging Congress to reauthorize this program through 2029 without any disruption to it.
“I’d like to thank Representative Caster, Doctor Joyce, and Doctor Schrier for working with me on this important issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation."
EMSC funding is used to ensure that hospitals and emergency medical services are properly equipped to treat pediatric emergencies, provide pediatric training to paramedics and first responders, and improve the systems that allow for efficient, effective pediatric emergency medical care.
Supporting Organizations: Academic Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Ambulance Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Pediatric Society, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, Children's Hospital Association, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Emergency Nurses Association, First Focus Campaign for Children, March of Dimes, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of State EMS Officials, National League for Nursing, Nemours Children's Health, Pediatric Policy Council, Society for Pediatric Research, The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, and The Paramedic Foundation.
Read the full bill text here.
###
